Myrtle Beach man arrested after dispute with bar employee

An employee of a Myrtle Beach bar told police he was assaulted by a patron when he asked the man to leave the business, according to a police report.

Richard Phillips, 50, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with public intoxication after police were called to the incident at Pop’s Place located at 511 S. Kings Highway, police said.

The 44-year-old employee was holding Phillips when police arrived and let him go when the officer ordered him to do so, according to the report. The man told police Phillips was intoxicated and he asked him to leave.

The man said Phillips got upset and threatened him and reached into his pocket so the man grabbed him out of fear he was getting a weapon, according to the report. The man said the suspect kicked and hit him repeatedly before the manager called police.